Small Spaces

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Small Spaces

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Doses of pattern, texture and bold colour add life and energy to this contemporary Vancouver condo.

When Jo-Ann Stansfield first contacted Vancouver design firm Riesco & Lapres Interior Design, the dust had barely settled on a months-long renovation on her 1,590-square-foot, condo near Stanley Park. But even after the home renovation, the space didn't quite feel like home. A few years earlier, Jo-Ann and her late husband, Hugh, had sold their family home in Kelowna, B.C., and every stick of furniture along with it, so the condo was sparsely furnished and had little of significance in it.

Jo-Ann needed guidance to create a new home for herself - one that honoured her past but looked forward as well. With the help of associate designer Catherine Radcliffe, the goal was to make the condo cozy enough for evenings spent in quiet solitude but also suitable for accommodating lots of guests -- namely Jo-Ann's four grown sons, their significant others and her energetic three-year-old granddaughter.

Now, the condo has plenty of life and colour, with every piece considered carefully. "There are no pretty props here just for show," says Catherine. Jo-Ann agrees: "Everything had to earn its place."

Photo Gallery

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Kitchen design

Warm texture and playful pattern in the form of accessories bring life to a space with a neutral backdrop. The new Shaker-style kitchen design feels bright and airy thanks to white cabinetry and an open plan.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jennifer Hughes
Source: Janis Nicolay

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Kitchen island

The new spacious island – painted a soft, pale grey – is now the only thing separating the kitchen from the living and dining areas.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jennifer Hughes
Source: Janis Nicolay

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Modern dining

A set of classic modern dining chairs cozies up to an antique table in the dining area. Pocket doors lead to the home office.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jennifer Hughes
Source: Janis Nicolay

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Home office

A round table means that homeowner Jo-Ann Stansfield doesn’t always have to face the same direction when working in her home office. The table can also be pressed into service as a small dining spot for intimate meals for one or two.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jennifer Hughes
Source: Janis Nicolay

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Room with a view

Walls dividing the kitchen from the main living space were torn down in the renovation. Views to downtown and Stanley Park can now be enjoyed from the kitchen.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jennifer Hughes
Source: Janis Nicolay

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Living room

The starting point in the living room was the sofa, which needed to be durable. “Definitely not white and precious!” says Jo-Ann. The denim-like blue upholstery stands up to visits from her active granddaughter. The striped rug keeps the space relaxed and informal.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jennifer Hughes
Source: Janis Nicolay

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Clutter-free library

The small section covered in a bookshelf wallpaper design is the only wall on this side of the condo – the rest is all windows. The messy book pattern provides a small hit of visual interest without the actual clutter.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jennifer Hughes
Source: Janis Nicolay

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Relaxed reading

A Swan chair and Missoni toss cushion make for a comfortable place to curl up with a book. The wall of built-in cabinetry in the living room conceals items like vases, candles and stereo equipment.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jennifer Hughes
Source: Janis Nicolay

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Master bedroom decor

To lend character and a touch of feminine indulgence to the master bedroom, wallpaper stretches across the back wall.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jennifer Hughes
Source: Janis Nicolay

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Complementary colours

Touches of hot pink and fuchsia are the perfect complement to the calming blues and greens used in the bedroom.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jennifer Hughes
Source: Janis Nicolay

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Stylish closet

The wallpaper on the closet doors in the bedroom is a fun nod to what might be inside.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jennifer Hughes
Source: Janis Nicolay

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

Bedroom seating

“I work my way back to that chair all day,” says Jo-Ann with a laugh. The iconic Womb design by Eero Saarinen offers a perch from which she can read, talk on the phone and gaze out at Stanley Park.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Jennifer Hughes
Source: Janis Nicolay

Condo tour: Bright, contemporary Vancouver condo

A splash of colour

Accessories are used sparingly throughout the condo to add a splash of colour.